Waiting for Superman

The deeper we go into the topic of oppression and segregation in our public school system, the more and more it hits close to home for me. I’m sure I’m not alone in our class in feeling that way.

Davis Guggenheim quickly dives into the issue of choosing a school for his own children early in the movie and despite my daughters still being under two years old, it’s an issue that I find myself thinking about often. If I were afforded the option of sending my child to a high achieving private school, would I choose to send them to a struggling public school? Maybe, but it’s not likely.

“You go to college, you don’t get a job, you get a career. There’s a difference.”

I guess it’s what they sell us, but how true is it?

Don’t get me wrong. When you’re stuck in poverty, stuck in the hood, stuck in a shitty situation, you have to cling to that hope for education. If you don’t believe it, then what’s the point of it all? Why are we going to school if we can’t make things better for our loved ones and ourselves?

We have to believe it. It’s just sad that the system isn’t built for that to be the truth.

“I understand that taking tests isn’t fun. Well, too bad!”

Great attitude, President Bush.

Let’s make this process of education as painful as possible for these students.

I guess the toughest part of all of this is the fact that there are people out there who care but are helpless after awhile. Individuals like Geoffrey Canada, Steve Barr and Michelle Rhee. I’m sure there are more who want change, but with the system currently in place, what possibility is there for change?

I guess that’s the point of documentaries. To make you think about these things and question why we’re in the situation we’re in. But I always end up asking myself “What can I do?” “How can I help?” “Is change possible?”

The public school process has been in place for years and as I got older, I knew the problems existed. As you get older, you move one and you forget. Waiting for Superman is a reminder. It’s a heartbreaking reminder.

These are children who are left without choices. They’re left with the luck of the draw and it’s incredibly sad.  You have you’re lottery number and if you don’t have the right lottery number then you become a statistic (number) that they only anticipate becoming another number (inmate number.) Maybe I’m taking it to an extreme, but that’s how it feels.